Gang circuit maker and breaker



Oct 11, 1960 w. c. HACKMAN 2,956,130

GANG CIRCUIT MAKER AND BREAKER Filed April 8, 1958 WILLIAM C. HACKMAN ATTORNEYS United States Patent GANG 'ClRCUlT MAKER AND BREAKER William C. Hackman, Silver Spring, Md., assignor of one-half to American Energetics Corporation, a corporation of the District of Columbia Filed Apr. 8, 1958, Ser. No. 727,095

2 Claims. (Cl. 200-) This invention relates to an electric multi-switch controller.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of a compact, small, efficiently operating multi-switch which can be fabricated at low cost for controlling electric circuits normally requiring large and expensive switch controllers.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a small and compact electric switch controller adapted to control a plurality of banks of small switches, such as micro switches, for the operation of circuits with efliciency and quietness.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved electromagnetic actuated multi-switch controller wherein a large number of switches, such as micro switches, can be manipulated for controlling a circuit having high amperage such as normally would require an expensive controller many times the size and weight of the controller of this invention.

A further object of this invention is the provision of improved controller means for manipulating the actuating buttons or members of a large number of switches controlling individual circuits, under such circumstances that the switches will be simultaneously actuated with the same degree of efliciency.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved multi-switch controller having improved means for efficiently operating small throw switches, such as micro switches, and under such conditions that the same can be used as a three phase circuit maker and breaker having large amperage or a simple phase as desired.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved compact multi-switch controller having a plurality of separate banks of small switches, such as micro switches, each of which controls an independent circuit, and the banks of which have improved operating means to insure the simultaneous opening and closing of the various circuits controlled thereby.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. l is a plan view of the improved controller. This view shows a relay in an inactive position.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the controller, showing one of the switch banks and improved means for controlling the switches thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a relay in switch actuating position.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, and more particularly showing micro switch actuating means in an inoperative position.

Fig. 5 is a view showing the operating means of Fig. 4, in fragmentary detail, in switch operating position.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken through the 2 controller structure substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view taken through a solenoid or relay structure adapted to operate the switch actuating means.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 88 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view taken through one type of micro switch, having a spring means therein normally urging a push button or actuating member outwardly, in relation to an operating means.

In the drawing, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A may generally designate the improved multi-switch controller. It may include a frame B, having banks C and D of individual electrical switches mounted thereon. Means E is provided for operation of the switches of banks C and D.

Referring to the frame B, the same includes a relay supporting wall 10, having right angled walls 11 and 12 extending therefrom. The latter are provided with outwardly extending flanges 13 adapted to be attached as at 14 to some support 15. The wall 12 is preferably provided with insulator rings 16 adapted to receive therethrough cables 17 which house the leads or conducting wires 19 adapted for connection to the terminals of the various individual switches of gangs or banks C and D. The frame B in all likelihood will be constructed of metal and the same is provided with inside insulation plates 25. Rod type bolts 47 may be used to connect walls 11 and 12.

The switch gangs or sets C and D may each have the same number of micro switches or the gangs may be unbalanced. The micro switches 30 are of conventional type, the casing portions, shown at 31 in Fig. 9, of the drawing, being provided with transverse openings therethrough for the puipose of removably receiving supporting rods 33. The casings 31 are entirely of insulation. The micro switches, of well known construction, each includes a common terminal 40, having :a terminal piece 41 within the casing; a normally opened switch terminal 42 having a terminal piece 43 within the casing, and a normally closed terminal 45 having a terminal piece 46 within the casing. These terminal pieces 41, 43, and 46 :are of brass or copper or other electrically conductive alloy. A leaf type spring 50 is connected to one end of the terminal piece 40 within the switch casing having at its opposite end a contact 51 adapted to normally engage with a contact 52 from the terminal piece 46. Thus, the common terminal 40 and the normally closed terminal 45 are in a normally closed circuit. A push button or pin or other member 60 is slidably carried by the casing 31, normally urged outwardly by the spring 50. The terminal piece 43 is provided with a contact 61 normally spaced in opened relation with respect to the terminal contact 51. The above description of a conventional micro switch is necessary because the spring 50 cooperates with the operating means E to normally urge the latter to an inoperative position, so far as switch closing is concerned. it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the spring 50 urges the push button 60 to the position shown in Fig. 9.

In the present invention the leads 19 are shown as attached to the terminals 40 and 42, thus making a normally opened switch of each of the micro switches 30; it being necessary to push the button 60 in order to move the spring 50 so that the contact 51 will engage the contact 61 in order to close the circuit.

The gangs or banks C and D are relatively spaced be tween the walls 11 and 12; the same being mounted upon the rods 33 which in turn are supported by the walls 11 and 12 in any approved manner. Banks or gangs C and D are spaced as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, in order that the banks C and D have the buttons 60 disposed in facing relation. Insulation pieces 70 are placed in the banks between the switches 30, as shown in Fig. 6, of the drawing and each bank extends from insulation plate 25 to insulation plate 25 across the space between the walls 11 and 12.

The operating means E for actuating the individual micro switches is intended to simultaneously push the pins or buttons 60 with the same force and to the same degree so that all of the circuits in both banks will he closed simultaneously, without any variance. The banks C and D have operating levers 80 and 81 respectively, each of which includes a button pushing bar portion 82 having right angled extensions 83 and 84 at the ends there of transversely apertured for detachably receiving pins 85 by means of which the lever structures 80 and 81 are pivoted upon the casing B. The bars 82 lie in position to engage the buttons 60, and in line therewith. Each lever 80 and 81 furthermore includes a right angled rod 90 projecting through a slot 91 provided in the wall of the frame B and exteriorly thereof being provided with a roller sleeve 92 rotatably mounted thereon.

The operating means E furthermore includes a relay 95 adapted to actuate the levers 80 through engagement between the rollers 92 for the purpose of spreading the levers apart, and thus actuating the levers 80 and 81 in order to close the normally opened micro switches for instant simultaneous closing of all of the micro switches of both gangs C and D.

The relay 95 includes a base 96, detachably connected at 97 at the outer surface of wall 10, having a frame 97 connected therewith which supports a magnetic coil 98 having lead wire terminal connections 99 and 100, as shown in Fig. 4. The relay 95 furthermore includes an armature or core 105 which is mounted in slidable non-rotatable relation within the frame 97 and coil 98; the inner end of which has mounted thereon a pressure equalizing cam 106. The armature 105 has a slot 110 therein which receives .a guide pin 11 attached to the frame 97 for linear guiding of the armature and to limit the in and out positions thereof. At its outer end the armature 105, as shown in Fig. 7, is provided with a transverse slot 112, adapted to receive a pin 113 therethrough; the latter being rigidly affixed upon the equalizing cam 106. The latter is endwise slotted at 115, as shown in Fig. 7, in which the slotted end of the armature 105 engages.

The cam 106 convergently tapers at its opposite sides, as shown at 120, and has a rather bluntly shaped tip 122 adapted to lie between the rollers 92, as shown in Fig. 7. Thus, it is obvious that the pressure equalizing cam 106 has both pivotal and lateral movements in order that the operating levers 80 will accurately function for instant simultaneous actuation of the circuits in each of the micro switches of both banks C and D.

It should be remembered that the spring 50 of each micro switch acts to normally force the button 60 outwardly into engagement with the actuating bar 82 of its lever 80 or 81. Assuming that each spring 50 has a 10 ounce action in urging the push button 50 outwardly, with six micro switches in each bank C and D as shown in the drawing, there will be a total of 60 ounces urging each lever 80 and 81 to normally force the rollers 92 thereof against the sides of the cam 106. However, it may be desired to provide a spiral tensioned spring 130, shown in various views of the drawing, mounted on the frame structure of the relay 95, and an end of which engages the outer end of the armature 105, as shown in Fig. 6, to normally retract the armature. Thus, the springs 50 of the micro switches, or the spring 130, or both of them may be used for the purpose of retracting the armature to the position shown in Fig. 7.

It should be pointed out that a three ampere relay may be utilized for operating a bank of switches having large amperage. It should furthermore be noted that the travel of the cam 106, assuming it to be or" an inch, can be used for operating the buttons 60, each having approximately a inch throw.

While the leads 19 are shown as connected to the micro switches in a normally opened circuit, it may be desired to use the improved controller such as in a lamp system, and in this event the leads 19 would be connected to the common terminals 40 and normally closed terminals 45. Thus, actuation of the means E by magnetization of the coil 98 would open the circuits of the micro switches.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of the improved switch actuating controller, without departing from the spirit of the invention or score of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a multi-switch controller, the cornbination of a supporting frame, a plurality of banks of individual switches, each bank made up of a plurality of such switches and each having a movable operating member thereon, said banks being fixedly carried by the frame in spaced relation with the operating members of one bank facing the operating members of the other bank, a pair of levers, one for each bant, pivoted on the frame, each of said levers including a bar portion for simultaneously engaging all of the operating members of the switches of its respective bank, electromagnetic means carried by the frame including an armature, and an equalizing head mounted upon the armature for lateral movement and disposed between the operating members for simultaneously actuating sad levers upon energizing of the electromagnetic means.

2. In a multi-switch controller for controlling a plurality of electric circuits, the combination of a supporting frame, a plurality of banks of switches disposed in opposed spaced relation upon the frame and rigidly fixed thereon, each switch including a spring actuated plunger normally acting to open the switch, a pair of levers pivotally mounted on the frame and extending through said space between the opposed banks of switches, the pivots of the levers being such that the spring actuated plungers of the switch banks will normally force the respective levers to an inoperative position, the levers remote from the pivots thereof being laterally movable so the levers of the banks may simultaneously operate all of the plungers for closing the switches upon spreading apart of the levers, and a relay mounted upon the frame including a movable armature and a cam mounted thereon and movable therewith and positioned to engage the levers remote from their pivots whereby upon energizing of the relay the said cam will spread said levers apart for the purpose of closing said switches, the cam being mounted u on the armature for bodily movement laterally with respect thereto and for pivotal rocking movement thereon whereby to equalize pressure upon said levers for simultaneous accurate actuation of the plungers of said switches.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,185,369 Cook May 30, 1916 1,909,783 McWhirter May 16, 1933 1,954,305 Williams Apr. 10, 1934 2,355,634 Doughty Aug. 15, 1944 2,404,633 Hausler July 23, 1946 2,848,588 Hackman Aug. 19, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 555,449 France Mar. 22, 1922 738,422 Great Britain Oct. 12, 1955 

